By Bob Downs
Located in the West Ohio Conference, our church draws membership from a largely suburban community. Our Green Team is over 15 years old and actively promotes creation justice in the congregation, conference, and community.
In 2020 we established our Giving Garden to raise fresh produce for local food pantries. Over the past few years, we have involved Sunday school and preschool students in viewing the garden growth, helping to harvest vegetables, and planting seeds.
Seeing a child discover that potatoes come from the ground is inspiring, but seeing them dig in to raise the plants and get the vegetables to people who need them is truly awesome. The kids can often reach vegetables that challenge taller adults and their help is really appreciated. More importantly, the students are recognizing food as gifts of God’s Creation.
This summer, we amplified that connection through Vacation Bible School and a poster contest. In Bible School the students built bird houses to attract insectivores to protect the garden and painted rocks to beautify the paths and identify vegetables growing in them. The kids also took some of the stones home for their own family gardens.
The poster contest invited our younger students to show how “I Care for God’s Creation.” All participants received key chains highlighting local wildlife and with information on where to find the wildlife in nature. Winning posters will be enlarged to be displayed around the church and will be used to promote Green Team events throughout the year. In this way adults will see the student involvement in caring for God’s Creation, and the posters will help engage the adults in programs to do the same.
Bob Downs, Earthkeeper; Creation Care Task Force member, West Ohio Conference; UMCJM Steering Group member; Green Team, Christ UMC – Kettering OH
